Sean Lien announces candidacy for Taipei mayoral race

TAIPEI, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sean Lien, son of former Kuomintang (KMT) chairman Lien Chan, on Monday formally announced his intention to run in the Taipei mayoral election in November.

A member of the KMT central committee, Lien told a press conference that his campaign focuses include revitalizing the western areas of Taipei, boosting the economy and expanding welfare.

Lien also promised to donate his monthly salary to charity funds if he is successfully elected.

His competitors within the KMT include lawmakers Tsai Cheng-yuan and Ting Shou-chung. Several members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), including Lu Hsiu-Lien (Annette Lu), and an independent, physician Ko Wen-je, have also expressed their interest in joining the race.